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December 2014 Newsletter
What is more deadly:
War or Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence claims hundreds of lives every year. but what is more deadly: war or domestic violence? Gloria Steinem claims that more women have been killed by their intimate partners (husbands or boyfriends) since September 11th, 2001 than all the Americans who were killed in the attacks on 9/11 or in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. 

2,978 lives were claimed during the 9/11 attacks. In addition to these deaths, 6,838 have lost their lives in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq according to the Pentagon. The combined number of deaths is still less than the number of women that have been killed as a result of domestic violence. According to James A. Fox of Northeastern University, from 2002-2012 the number of women who lost their lives to their intimate partner was 15,462. 

Board Member Feature
Dr. Tim Dickel

My name is Tim Dickel and I'm a board member for the DVC. My connection to Domestic Violence in Omaha came a few years ago when I was asked to help the DVC with some grant writing. I was working on a project involving violence research, so the fit was pretty natural. I got hooked on the work of the DVC, and I was invited to run for a position on the board. I got elected and have been on the board since 2005. 

 

My interest is in the acts of violence that constitute DV, but I am also interested in how to protect all domestic partners from abuse and how to help survivors experience healing and renewed trust in relationships. In 2007, I took the DV medical elective and that got me interested in that particular effort to prepare physicians to recognize DV. I have been an evaluator for that work for the last few years. The DV elective caused me to create an undergraduate course at Creighton University entitled Violence in America. At first, it reviewed a number of different kinds of violence, but in the last three years it has centered around dating violence. Dating violence has become a very hot topic on America's college and university campuses, and I hope this course helps protect the students on our campus by making them much more aware of the dynamics of dating violence and the resources that exist on campus and in the community to help them should they fall prey to a perpetrator.  

Gambling and DV

What's Really Going On?: The Facts About Domestic Violence and Problem Gambling

In a recent study of problem gamblers, 63% reported perpetrating or being the victim of domestic violence and 24% admitted to perpetrating severe abuse to their significant other. Not only were the problem gamblers talking about being abusers they were also revealing that 64.5% of them had clinically significant anger problems. 

In Mississippi officials were able to track the increase of domestic violence shelter requests for assistance during and after casinos were introduced. The increase ranged from 100 to 300 percent. According to the National Research Council, up to half of all spouses of compulsive gamblers have been abused. Here in Nebraska, researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center concluded that problem gambling is as much a risk factor for domestic violence as alcohol abuse.


To get help, ask questions or talk to a counselor please call Heartland Family Services 24 hour help line toll free at 866-322-1407
Happy Holidays! 
Happy Holidays from the DVC Staff
Michelle, Christon, Maureen and Tara
Letter from the 
Executive Director

     2014 was a great year for the DVC. We hope yours was wonderful, too. We brought in national expert Lundy Bancroft in May to our annual breakfast and conference. In March, we successfully stopped a dangerous piece of legislation which mandated victims share joint custody of their children with their abusers. In January and November, we held Truth Leadership trainings to empower survivors to tell their stories safely. Thank you to all of you who attended or assisted in these endeavors to improve the response to domestic violence in our community.


     The staff and board of the DVC truly wish you the merriest of Christmases, the happiest of Hanukkahs, the most fun Kwanza celebrations and a wonderful New Year.


 In Peace,

  



Tara L. Muir, JD
Executive Director
In This Issue
Quick Links
Community Resources
Domestic Violence Council | 402.210.2195 | dvc@dvcomaha.org | http://www.dvcomaha.org
1941 S 42nd St, Ste 510
Omaha, NE 68105




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